Archmage Raffaelli let out a cold laugh. "That isn't necessarily true. If my two friends really put everything they have on the table, they might have enough wealth to bury you in it!"
Lawson Leonard sneered and leaned closer to Archmage Raffaelli. "You know what? I paid the organizers a little sponsorship fee and had them put me in the same group as your two penniless friends. In other words, I'm going to eliminate them!"
He gave a sinister smile. "Normally, they wouldn't have been matched against me. But I can't stand the sight of you, so I decided to make sure your two penniless friends had some bad luck."
Lawson Leonard kept calling EeDechi and Barrett "your two penniless friends," yet he never even looked at them, treating them as if they were beneath notice.
He straightened his robe and said leisurely, "Well, I'll be eliminating those two penniless men soon enough."
"Lawson Leonard, how dare you insult my friends?!" A furious shout rang out.
Everyone present turned toward the voice, and their expressions changed instantly. Many of the immensely wealthy magnates wore looks of surprise and admiration.
A richly adorned middle-aged man strode toward them with an imposing air. A luxurious curved saber hung from his waist, and precious jewels gleamed across his extravagant attire. Behind him followed a group of officials from the Dragon Island Auction.
And who was the organizer of the Dragon Island Auction? Who in City Alliance could command the respect of every wealthy magnate?
Only a tycoon at the very pinnacle of wealth, with an extravagantly imposing presence and unmatched prestige, could fill that role.
Bill Hades—the head of the Golden Aquarius Consortium!
"It's him! Bill Hades! The legendary man who completed the World Trade Route!"
"I heard he set out from City Alliance aboard the Emerald Sandboat, an amphibious cargo ship, and headed south, crossing the entire world!"
"That's right! He overcame countless dangers, traveling all the way from north to south and doing business with countless races and great houses. In the end, he reached the southernmost point of the world—the Vast Stellar Gate, an ancient ruin left behind by the Eight Greed Kings. Then, through the Vast Stellar Gate, he instantly returned from the southernmost reaches of the world to the far north, making his way back to City Alliance and completing the World Trade Route!"
Even the normally dignified and composed magnates present could hardly contain their excitement.
Just as adventurers worship dragon-slaying heroes, and soldiers revere legendary generals capable of facing a thousand enemies, the people of City Alliance, where commerce was prized above all else, revered Bill Hades for completing the legendary World Trade Route.
What was more, Bill Hades and his Golden Aquarius Consortium had earned an incalculable fortune by completing the route. He was widely acknowledged as one of the greatest tycoons in all of City Alliance!
Bill Hades paid no attention to the admiring gazes around him. Boundless delight surged into his eyes. He rushed over in a few long strides, like a traveler far from home suddenly seeing his loved ones again, and abruptly grasped EeDechi's hand.
"My benefactor! What brings you to City Alliance?" Bill Hades was both nervous and excited, trembling all over.
Without EeDechi, Barrett, Franco, and the others, the entire Golden Aquarius caravan would have perished in the desert of the Eight Greed Kings. No matter how much money they possessed, they would never have had the chance to spend it.
"Ah… hello. I have some business to take care of in City Alliance." Despite unexpectedly running into an old acquaintance, EeDechi remained fairly calm.
Lawson Leonard stood there dumbfounded. He had never imagined that the "two penniless men" he looked down on were Bill Hades's benefactors.
Bill Hades freed one hand and grasped Barrett's hand as well. Excitedly, he said, "My benefactors, you came to City Alliance without telling me! I would have welcomed you with the finest hospitality the city has to offer!"
Barrett shook his hand and smiled. "There's no need to trouble yourself. We came to City Alliance only to participate in the Dragon Island Auction."
"The Dragon Island Auction? That's easy enough! I'm the organizer!" Bill Hades declared.
He turned his gaze toward Lawson Leonard, fixing him with an icy glare.
"Lawson, how dare you insult my benefactors!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Lawson Leonard bowed and scraped, apologizing in a frantic rush. "I never imagined that two such distinguished gentlemen, dressed so simply, would be your benefactors."
The arrogance he had displayed moments ago had vanished completely.
"Hmph! My two benefactors may dress simply, but their strength is immeasurable, and their noble character shines like the stars. All the money you possess cannot compare with either their strength or their virtue!"
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Lawson Leonard even threw down his staff and bent nearly double as he apologized.
Bill Hades said coldly, "Cancel every business arrangement between the Golden Aquarius Consortium and the House of the Golden Seagull. All of them."
"Lord Hades, please, don't do that…" Lawson forced out a bitter smile.
Bill Hades gave a cold laugh. "By the way, didn't you arrange for them to be placed against you? That means you intended to eliminate them and advance to the finals?"
"Yes…" Lawson Leonard answered reluctantly. "That was my mistake. I can have the matchup changed and face someone else instead. It won't affect the two of them participating."
He pleaded miserably, "Lord Hades, please don't make me give up my chance to enter the auction. I'm already old enough to have one foot in the grave. If I can't buy 'youth' at the Dragon Island Auction, I'll die!"
Bill Hades shook his head. "As the organizer, I naturally can't force you to withdraw. That would violate the principle of fairness established by the contract."
Lawson Leonard breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as though a great weight had been lifted from his chest.
"However," Bill Hades continued, his tone abruptly shifting, "I will transfer my entire fortune to EeDechi and Barrett. You've lost!"
Lawson Leonard looked as if he had been struck by lightning. He staggered back two steps, barely managing to stay on his feet. His face turned deathly pale.
"Please don't do this, Lord Hades! I'm begging you! I really need to participate in the Dragon Island Auction! I've been preparing for this for ten years! Please!"
Bill Hades waved his hand. An asset auditor immediately stepped forward, and the necessary contract was signed.
Every share he held, every piece of property, every fixed and liquid asset—in short, everything Bill Hades owned—was transferred to EeDechi and Barrett.
In an instant, EeDechi and Barrett became the richest people in City Alliance.
The preliminary round began. Lawson Leonard was matched against EeDechi and Barrett. In this contest of wealth, Lawson Leonard had no chance whatsoever of winning.
His face was ashen and lifeless, as though he had already been buried in the very grave he feared. He slunk away from the competition venue like a defeated ghost.
The finals followed the preliminary round. With the immense financial resources of Bill Hades and the Golden Aquarius Consortium behind them, EeDechi and Barrett advanced smoothly and obtained the right to enter the Dragon Island Auction.
Of course, they returned all the wealth Bill Hades had given them, exactly as they had received it.